Load control system



Sept. 24, 1935. L FOUNTAEN 2,915,555

LOAD CONTROL SYSTEM Filed April 14, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet l WITNESS. I INVENTOR @1446 LQWrenjFOHfO H Sept. 24 1%, L. L. FOUNTAIN LOAD CONTROL SYSTEM Filed April 14, 1.934 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 WITNESS @M/ 6" MM Sept. 24, 1935. L. L. FOUNTAIN I LOAD CONTROL SYSTEM Filed April 14, 1954 4 SheetsSheet 3 INVENTOR W. F nfa p 3 L. L. FOUNTAIN I 2,015,555

LOAD CONTROL SYSTEM Filed April 14, 1.934 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Fig. 3.

WIT ESS INVENTOR re (e L. n fa/n generators.

Patented Sept. 24, 1935 a UNITED STATES.

LOAD CONTROL SYSTEM Lawrence L. Fountain, Wilkinsblu'l, Pa assign: to Westinghouse Electric 8: Manufacturing Company, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation oi Pennsylvania Application April 14, 1934, Serial No. 720,619

7 Claims. (Cl. 290-4):

My invention relates to regulating systems and more particularly to regulator systems for controlling the division of load between a number of parallel operated electricalgenerators.

In accordance with my invention, means is provided that is actuated in accordance with the quantity that is to be maintained constant, such as total load output from a plurality of generators operated in parallel, or the frequency of the alternating-current wave supplied from. said generators. This means, which may be a load responsive relay, operates to energize control circuits for increasing or decreasing the power input to the prime movers driving the several Load balanced relays are provided that are responsive to the relative loads between the several generators, and operate to select certain of the several generators to respond to specific required variations in power input resulting from the operation of the load responsive relay, or equivalent device, for controlling the power input to the entire group of generators.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a diagrammatic view of circuits and apparatus illustrating one preferred embodiment of my invention for use where two generating units are employed;

Figs. 2a. and 2b are a diagram of circuits and apparatus illustrating another embodiment of my invention applied to a group of three generating units; and

Fig. 3 is a simplified schematic diagram of certain of the control circuits employed in the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 2.

Referring to Fig. 1, two generators I and 2 are illustrated having armature windings 3 and 4, respectively, connected to output circuits 5 and B for delivering power to the common station bus bars I, from which power is supplied to an outgoing transmission line represented by conductors 8, 9 and Ill. The generators are provided with field windings II and I2, respectively, that are energized from conductors l3 and I4 that are connected to any convenient source of direct current supply, such as the battery IS.

The generators i and 2 are driven, respectively, by prime movers l6 and ll, which may be water wheels, steam turbines, or any equivalent prime moving apparatus. Each prime mover is provided with a conduit l8, through which motive fluid is supplied, and a valve l9 that is operated to control the rate of supply of power input to the prime mover. A speed governing device 2| is provided, which may be any suitable known type, and is driven through a suitable gearing 22 in accordance with the speed of the prime mover and generator driven thereby. The governing device 2|, actuated in accordance with the speed of its associated prime mover, moves a valve control lever 23 to partially close or partially open the valve l3 upon variations in the speed of the associated generating unit from its desired valve. The force acting upon the lever 23 by the centriiugal'governing device is opposed by the action of a spring 24, the tension of which may be controlled to adjust the setting of the governing device.

Governor controlling motors 25 and 26 are respectively provided for adjusting the setting of the units associated with the generators I and 2 through suitable gearing mechanisms 21 and 28. The motor 25 is provided with a field winding 29 that is connected to the supply conductors l3 and I4 and withan armature winding 3| that is connected to the lever arms of motor reversing switches 32 and 33. The switch 32 is provided with lower cooperating contact members 34 and upper contact members 35, a biasing member 36 for forcing the moving arm of the switch to its illustrated operative position, and an electromagnet having the winding 31 which, when energized, operates the lever am against the bias of the member 36 to a second operative position, causing separation of the contact members 34 and engagement of the contact members 35. The switch 33 is similar in construction to the reversing switch 32 and is provided with lower contact members 38 and upper cooperating contact members 39, a biasing member, or spring, II that acts to bias the switch to its illustrated position, and an electromagnet having winding 42 for actuating the switch from its illustrated position, causing separation of the contact members 36 and engagement of the contact members 39. The armature winding 3| of the motor is connected through the switches 32 and 33, in their illustrated positions, to the supply conductor I3, so that no voltage is impressed across the motor winding. Should the one or the other of the switches 32 or 33 be actuated to its second operative position, the one or other terminal of the motor armature 3| will be connected through the upper contact members or 39 of the reversing switch'32 or switch 33 to the supply conductor ll, thus impressing a voltage upon the motor armature in the one or other direction, depending upon which of the reversing switches is so actuated, to operate the motor in a direction to increase or decrease the power input to the generating unit. v

The governor adjusting motor 26, associated with the prime mover I1, is provided with reversing switches 43 and 44, that are similar in construction to the switches 32 and 33, and provide for similarly connecting the armature winding 45 of the motor 26 to the supply conductors l3 and H, the field winding 46 being permanently connected thereto. The switch 43 comprises lower cooperating contact members 41 and upper cooperating contact members 48, that. are

urged to their illustrated positions by the spring or biasing member 89, in opposition to which an electromagnet, having a winding 5|, operates the switch when energized. The switch 89 is likewise provided with lower contact members 52, upper contact members 59, the biasing member 54 and anelectromagnet having a winding 55.

'A load responsive relay 58 is provided, and is responsive to the watts output flowing in the transmission line represented by the conductors 8, 9 and I8. The relay 58 comprisesan arm 51, cooperating pairs of contact members 58 and 59 controlled thereby and actuated by electromagnets 6| and 82. The magnet 6| is provided with a current coil 62, energized from the secondary winding of a current transformer 64, the primary winding of which is connected in series with the conductor 8 of the transmission line. The electromagnet 6| is also provided with voltage windings 65 and 56 that are connected in series circuit relation and diflferentially related with'respect to one another, and positioned on opposite sides of the current coil 68 about the movable core of the electromagnet 6|. Thewindlugs 65 and 66 are connected by conductors 61 and 68 to the outer terminals of the three-phase voltage transformer 69 in such manner as to be responsive to the voltage between the line conductors 8 and 8.

The electromagnet 62 is provided with a moving core member connected to the lever arm 51 and is surrounded by a current coil 1| about the central portion thereof, that is connected to be energized from the secondary winding of the current transformer 12, the primary winding of which is connected in seriesv with the supply conductor l8 of the transmission line. On opposite sides of the current coil 1|, differentially related voltage coils 18 and 14 are positioned and connected in series circuit relation with each other, and by conductors 15 and 16 to the right hand terminal and midpoint respectively of the secondary winding of the voltage transformer 69, or so as to be responsive to the voltage between conductors 9 and I8 of the transmission line.

The relay 56 is responsive to the watts output of the circuit represented by conductors 8, 9 and I8, and, upon a variation in the power flowing through this circuit from the value for which the relay 56 is adjusted, it will operate to close a circuit through the one or the other of the cooperating pairs of contact members 59 or 59, to cause a raising or a lowering of the power input to the generating units. Thus when the output of the circuit 8-9-18 rises above the said given value, the magnets 6| and 62 increase their biasing action, which they respectively exert downwardly and upwardly, upon the center-pivoted member 51 and thus rotate it, against the action of a tension spring 58, in a counter-clockwise direction to close the contact members 59. Similarly, when the circuit output falls below the value for which the relay 56 is adjusted, the spring 58 is permitted to bias the pivoted member 51 in the opposite direction to efi'ect a closure of contact members 58.

The input-lowering circuit above referred to may be traced from the supply conductor I 3, by conductor 11 to the operating coil of the direction relay 18, thence through the winding 8| 0! this relay, conductor 82, and contact members 59 to the lever arm 51 of the relay 56, and then by the conductor to the supply conductor I4. The input-raising circuit is similar to the one just traced except that it includes the winding 83 of a second direction relay 19, a conductor 84, and the contact members 58 of the relay 56.

A load balancing relay 88 of the reverse-power sensitive type is provided for controlling the operation of a machine selecting relay 86 that de termines which of the two prime mover units, l6 or H, is to be controlled in response to a specific impulse from the load responsive relay 56. The load balancing relay 98 is provided with a voltage winding 81 and a current winding 98, that is connected to the conductors 89 and 9| which are cross-connected between the secondary windings of current transformers 92 and 93 in the output circuit from the generator I, and current transformers 98 and 95 in the output circuit from the generator 2. Since the current transformers in these two generator output circuits are connected in the corresponding conductors of the circuit and are cross-connected, their voltages are diiferentially related and oppose the flow of current in the circuit comprising conductors 99 and 9| when a balanced relation exists in the current output of the two machines. Upon a variation in the output of the two members from this balanced condition, the voltage from the current transformers corresponding to the machines having the greater output will more than equalize that from the current transformers of the other machine, thus producing circulating current between the transformers in the two generator output circuits and a voltage across the winding 88 of the load balancing relay 88 in a direction to cause operation of the relay in accordance with which of the two machines is delivering the greater output. The current transformers in the two output circuits may, of course, be so adjusted that the balanced condition corresponds to any particular ratio of power output from the two machines, for example, a ratio depending upon the normal capacities of the machines.

The load balancing relay 88 and the machine selecting relay 86 together partially establish control circuits that determine which of the prime movers l6 or 11 will, at any particular time, in response to the operation of the relay 56, receive an adjustment of the governor mechanism to in crease its power input, and which will receive an adjustment of its governor mechanism to decrease the power input. The relay circuits are so arranged that when the output of generator 2 is greater than that of generator I, the machineselecting relay 86 will occupy the position illustrated. With the relay 86 in its illustrated position, an operation of the relay 56, as results when the output of circuit 9-9-l 8 falls below the value for which the relay is set, to cause engagement of its cooperating contact members 58 will cause operation of the motor 25 in a direction to increase the power input to the prime mover I6, and will prevent operation of the motor 26. Upon engagement of the contact members 59 of the relay 56, the motor 26 will be operated in a direction to decrease the power input to the prime mover 11, while the relay 86 will prevent the operation of the motor 25 to change the power input to the prime mover 16. This will be readily apparent by tracing the following circuits.

Upon engagement of the contact members 58 of the relay 56, the direction relay 19 is energized and operated to its circuit closing position to increase the power input to the generators, closing a circuit from the supply. conductor l3, through conductor 11, conductors 96 and 91, the

contact member of the relay 19, conductor 98, the 75 contact member 98 of the relay 88, conductor IIII the winding 42 of the switch 33, to the supply conductor I4,-thus causing operation of the switch 33 to separate contact members 38 and close contact members 39 to operate the motor 28 in a direction to increase the power input to the prime mover I8. It will be noted that in the illustrated position of the switch 88, the contact member I02 thereof will not bridge the circuit between conductors 98 and I03 for energizing the winding 55 oi! the switch 44, which is necessary to operate the motor 26 in a direction to increase the power input to the prime mover II. The motor 28, therefore, will not operate under these conditions.

Should the relay 56 operate to cause engagement or its cooperating contact members 59 for lowering the power input to the prime movers, the direction relay I8 will be actuated to close a circuit from supply conductor I3, conductors I1,

98, 91, relay I8, conductor I04, contact member I02 of switch 85, conductor I05, winding 0! the motor reversing switch 43 to the supply conductor I4, thus causing operation oi! the switch 43 to separate the contact members 41 and close a circuit through the contact members 48 to operate the motor 26 in a direction to lower the power input to the prime mover II.

It will be noted that, in the illustrated position of the relay 86, the circuit from conductor I04 and to the conductor I06 for operating the reversing switch 32, controlling the lowering input operation of the motor 25, is interrupted by the relay contact member 99 which is in its lower position. The motor 25 will, therefore, not operate.

If the power output from the generator 2 becomes less than the output Irom the generator I, so as to disturb the balanced relation in the cross-connected transformer circuits 89 and 9|, the load balancing relay 80 will be operated in a direction to cause engagement oi. its movable contact member I81 with contact member I08, thus closing a circuit from supply conductor I3 through conductor 11, conductor 96, resistor I09, winding III of the relay 86, conductor II2, relay contact members I01 and I08, conductors I I3 and 85 to supply conductor I4 operating the relay 88 to its upper or energized position. When so operated, a holding circuit from the upper end of the operating winding III through conductor II4, switch contact member II5, conductors H6 and 85 to supply conductor I4 retains the relay 86 in its upper position until the winding III is deenergized by the relay 80. In its upper position, the

relay contact member 99 connects conductor I04 to the conductor I86 and the relay contact member I 02 connects the conductor 98 to the conductor I03, so that the control circuits are so determined by the machine selecting relay 85 that closing 01 the relay I9 will cause operation of the motor 28 in a direction to increase the power input to the generator I'I while the motor 25 will remain at rest, and operation of the relay I8 will cause operation of the motor 25 in a direction to decrease the power input to the prime mover I6 while the motor 26 will remain at rest.

Upon a reverse in unbalancing relays between the generators I and 2 such that the power output of the generator 2 is large with respect to the power output from the generator I, the contact member I0I of the relay 80 will move to engage the contact member II I, thus deenergizing the winding I II through the short circuit comprising conductors I I2, relay contact members I01 and I I1 and conductor II8. This permits the relay 88 to drop to its lower orillustrated position.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, a regulating system in accordance with my invention is illustrated as applied (or use with three generators. The opera- 5 tion of the load relay 89 for actuating the direction determining relays I8 and I9 is the same as in the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1. In this embodiment of the invention, three generators 'A, B and C are illustrated having output 10 circuits I 2I, I22 and I23, respectively, connected to the station buses I24 supplying the circuit represented by conductors 8, 9 and I0 in response to which the load relay 56 is actuated. The three generating units are provided with governor mechanisms I25, I26, and I21, which may be similar in character to those illustrated for the prime movers I6 and II in Fig. l. The load adjustments of these governor mechanisms are controlled by adjusting motors I28, I28 and I3I, respectively, in accordance with the operation of the load relay 56 and of load balancing relays I32, I33 and I34 which are employed in place or the relay 80 in Fig. l.

The load balancing relays I32, I33 and I34 are respectively provided with voltage windings I35, I36 and I3'I connected to be energized from the output circuits of the generators A, B and C, respectively, and with current windings I38, I39 and I that are connected across the secondary windings of current transformers I42, I43; I44, I45; and I46, I41, respectively, associated with the output circuits from the corresponding generators. The secondary windings oi the current transformers are so connected in a looped circuit that no voltage exists across the windings I38, I39 and I when a power balance exists between machines A, B and C. As will be noted, the bottom of the winding I43 is connected by conductor I48 to the top of the winding I45, the bottom of which is connected by conductor I49 to the top of the winding 1, the bottom of which is connected by conductor I5I to the top of the winding I43.

The motors I28, I29 and I3I, respectively, for adjusting the setting oi! the three governing mechanisms I25, I26 and I2I are provided with opposed field windings for controlling the operation of the motor in opposite directions, the circuits being completed through switches AR and 5 AL for the motor I28 controlled by the load balance relay I32, switches BR and BL for the motor I29 controlled by the load balance relay I33, and switches CR and CL for the motor I3I controlled by the load balance relay I34.

For convenience in tracing the circuits through the several switches the following system of designating the switches and parts is chosen; the first character representing the switch corresponds to that representing its associated generator A, B, or C, the second character, R or L indicates whether it controls the adjustment of the unit to raise or lower the input thereto, and the third character designates a part of the switch, the several pairs of cooperating contact members being indicated by numbers I, 2, 3, 4 and 5, beginning from the bottom. The biasing spring for holding each switch arm in its illustrated positions is designated by the numeral 6, and the operating winding for actuating the switch to its second operative position, not illustrated, is indicated by the numeral I. For example, ARI indicates the operating winding of the switch associated with the unit A for increasing the input thereto, and-3L5 represents the filth or uppermost pair of contacts of the switch for controlling the lowering oi the input to the unit B.

By noting the structural relationships of the parts or the switch as illustrated in Fig. 2, and noting the circuit through the several pairs oi cooperating contact members which will be more easily done by reference to Fig. 3,'the operation of the governor adjusting motors of the three units may be readily followed.

In the illustrated positions of the load bal ancing relays I32, I83 and I84 and 01' the switches AR, AL, BR, BL, CR and CL, those portions or the motor energizing circuits from the auxiliary conductors I52 and I53 to the supply conductor I4 are complete, so that, upon the operation oi the directional relay 19 to connect conductor I52 to the supply conductor I3, all three motors will operate in a direction to raise the input to their respective generating units, while upon the operation of the relay 18 to its circuit closing position, the conductor I53 will be connected to the supply conductor I8 completing the circuit through each of the motors I28, I29 and III to operate them in a direction to decrease the output to the several prime movers.

The circuits between the supply conductor I4 and the auxiliary supply conductors I52 and I58, that are connected to the supply conductor I3 by the direction determining relays 18 and 19, respectively, will be most readily followed by reference to Fig. 3, in which the circuits between the several switch elements in Fig. 2 are illustrated. This fact should be kept in mind in comparing the two figures, since, for exam-- ple, junction points shown in Fig. 3 for the sake of clearness as two separate points connected by a conductor may, in fact, be the same point on the conductor shown in Fig. 2, the important fact represented being that the several conductor portions or points are, electrically, the same conductor or point. For example, conductors I 68 and HI and junction point I69, together with conductors I6I, I63 and junction point I62, form a conductor network whereby the appropriate side of the switches BB5, CR5, GL3 and BL3 are'all connected to the same conductor network, the network acting as a single conductor element in tracing a circuit through the several switches.

In the illustrated positions of the several governor setting motor control switches AR, AL; BR, BL; and CRand CL, a circuit extends from the supply conductor I4 through conductor I54 to the armature winding of the motor I28 through the field winding I55 for energizing the motor to operate in a direction to raise or increase the power input to the prime mover through conductor I56, cooperating switch contact members ARI in their circuit closing position, conductor I51, junction point I58, conductor I59, cooperating contact members BL8 in their circuit closing position, conductor I6I, Junction point I62, conductor I68, contact members GL8 in their circuit closing position, and conductor I64 to the auxiliary supply conductor I52, thus eflecting operation 01 the motor I28 in a direc-- tion to increase the power input when the relay 18 is actuated to connect the auxiliary supply conductor I52 to supply conductor I8.

A circuit also extends from the junction point I58 by conductor I61 to the cooperating contact members CR5, shown in their open position, conductor I68 to junction point I68 and through conductor "I to one side 01' the pair orcooperating contact members BRS and by conductor I12 to the auxiliary supply conductor I52. The Junction point I69 shown in the connection between the cooperating pairs of contact members CR and BB5 is, in effect, the same as the Junction point. Hi2 shown in the connection between the cooperating pairs of contact members BL3 andCLCi, so that a circuit may be closed in shunt relation to the pairs 0! contact members 1313, through the pairs of contact members CR5, and a circuit may be closed in shunt relation to the pairs of contact members GL3 through the contact members BB5.

A circuit for operating the motor MB in a direction to lower the power input of the prime mover unit associated therewith. may be completed from the supply conductor I I, through conductor I54, the armature winding of the motor I28, the field winding I13 for actuating the motor in a power input decreasing direction, conductor I14, cooperating contact members AL I, conductor I15 to the junction point Iiii, ccnduc' tor I11 to the cooperating pair of contact members BB3 shown in their circuit closing position, conductor I18, junction point I19, conductor I8I, cooperating pairs of contact members CR3 shown in their circuit closing position, and conductor I82 to the auxiliary supply conductor I53. A circuit in shunt relation to the separate pairs of contact members BB3 and CR3 in the circuit just traced is provided extending from the junction point I16, by conductor I83, through the cooperating pairs of com tact members CL5 shown in circuit interrupting position, conductor I84, junction point I85, conductor I86, cooperating pairs of contact members BL5 shown in their circuit interrupting position, and by conductor I81 to the auxiliary supply conductor I53. The junction points I19 and I85 are, in effect, the same point or conductor, so that, the circuit through the pair of contact members 0L5 closes a circuit in shunt relation to the pair of contact members BB3, and the circuit through the contact members BL5 closes a circuit in shunt relation to the pair of contact members CR3.

The circuits for operating the motor I29 are similar to those for operating the motor I28, the circuit for operating the motor to increase the power input to its associated prime mover extending from the supply conductor I4 through conductor I88, the armature winding of the motor I29, the field winding I89 for actuating the motor in a power input increasing direction, the conductor I8I, cooperating pair of contact members BRI, the conductor I92, the junction point I88, conductor I94, cooperating pair of contact members ALI shown in their circuit closing position, conductor I85, junction point I96, conductor I91, the pair of contact members CL2 and by conductor I98 to the auxiliary supply conductor I52. A branch or shunt circuit also extends from the junction point I98 by conductor I99, to the cooperating pair of contact members CR4, shown in their circuit interrupting position, conductor "I, to junction point 282, conductor 288 to the cooperating pair of contact members AR5 shown in their circuit interrupting position, and conductor 284 to the auxiliary supply conductor I52.

In the circuit just traced, it will be apparent, upon reference to Fig. 3, that the junction points 282 and I88 are, in effect, the same point or on the same conductor, so that, the pair 0! contact members CR4 closes a circuit in shunt relation to the pair of contact members AB, and the pair of contact members AR5 closes a circuit in shunt relation to the pair 01' contact members CL2.

A circuit for actuating the motor I29 in a direction to decrease the power input to its associated prime mover extends fromthe supplyconductor I4 by conductor I88, the armature winding of the -motor I29, the field winding 295 for operating the motor in the appropriate direction, conductor 208, cooperating pair of contact members BLI, conductor 201, junction point 288, and conductor 209 through the cooperating pair of contact members AR2, shown in their circuit closing position, conductor 2I I, junction point 2I2, conductor 2I3 to the cooperating pair of contact members CR2, and by conductor 2 l 4 to the auxiliary supply conductor I53. A branch or shunt circuit also extends from the junction point 208 by conductor 2I5 to the cooperating pair of contact members CL4, shown in their circuit interrupting position, conductor 2 I6, junction point 2", conductor 2I8, cooperating pair of contact members AL5 shown in their circuit interrupting position, and by conductor 2 I9 to the auxiliary supply conductor I53. The junction points 2I2 and 2H are connected together, being. in eifect, the same point or conductor so that the pair of contact members CL4 will close a circuit in shunt relation to the members AR2, and the pair of contact members AL5 will close a circuit in shunt relation to the contact members CR2.

A circuit for operating the governor setting motor I3l in a direction to increase the input to the generating unit C is traced from the supply conductor l4 through conductor 22I, the armature of the motor I3I, the field winding 222 for operating the motor I3I in the appropriate direction, the conductor 223, the cooperating pair of contact members CRI, conductor 224, junction point 225, conductor 226, to cooperating pair of contact members AL2 shown in their circuit closing position, conductor 221, junction point 228, conductor 229, cooperating pair of contact members BL2, shown in their circuit closing position, and by conductor 23I to the auxiliary conductor I52. A branch or shunt circuit extends from the junction point 225 by conductor 232 to the pair of cooperating contact members BRA, shown in their circuit interrupting position, the conductor 233, junction points 234, conductor 235 to the cooperating pair of contact members AR4, shown in their circuit interrupting position, and by conductor 236 to the supply conductor I 52. The junction points 228 and 234 are, in effect, the same points being on the same conductor so that the contact members BR4 close a circuit in shunt relation to the contact members AL2 and the contact members AR4 close a circuit in shunt relation to the contact members BL2.

A circuit for operating the motor I3I in a direction to decrease the power input to the generating unit C may be traced from the supply conductor I4 by conductor 22I, through the armature winding of the motor I3I, the field winding 236 for operating the motor in the appropriate direction, conductor 231, cooperating pair of contact members CLI, conductor 238, junction point 239, conductor 24I, cooperating pair of contact members AR3, conductor 242, junction point 243, conductor 244, cooperating pair of contact members BR2, conductor 245 to the auxiliary supply conductor I53. A circuit in shunt to the pairs of contact members AR3 and BR2 extends from the junction point 239 by conductor 246, 00- operating pair of contact members BL4, conduc- The junction points 243 and 248 being on the 5 same conductor are, in effect, the same point.

The circuits for energizing the electromagnets for actuating the several switches AR, AL, 2BR, BL, CR and CL to their second operative positions for reversing the relations of the circuits 10 controlled thereby from that shown in the illustrated positions of the several switches may be traced as follows. A conductor 252 extends from the supply conductor I3 connecting the movable contact members of the several load balancing 15 relays I32, I33 and I34 therewith. Upon movement of the contact member 253 of the load balancing relay I32 to engage the contact member 254, a circuit is completed through conductor 255 and the winding AR1 of the switch AR 20 to the supply conductor I4 for actuating the switch AR away from its illustrated position, closing circuits through its pairs of contact mem- V bers AR4 and AR5, shown in their circuit interrupting position, and interrupting circuits 25 through those pairs of contact members, ARI, AR2, and AR3, shown in their circuit closing positions. Upon movement of the contact member 253 to interrupt the circuit through the conductor 255, the switch AR is again actuated by 30 the biasing member AR6 to its illustrated circuit closing position, and upon movement of the contact member 253 to engage the contact member 256, a circuit is completed through the conductor 251 and the winding AL1 of the switch 35 AL to the supply conductor I4 for so operating the switch AL as to cause engagement of the cooperating pairs of contact members AL4 and AL5 and to separate the cooperating pairs of contact members ALI, AL2 and AL3. 40 The load balancing relay I33 controls similar circuits for operating the switches BR and BL extending from the movable contact member 258,- contact member 259, conductor 26I, winding BR1 to the supply conductor I4 for operating the 45 switch BR away from its illustrated position, and a circuit extending from the contact member 258 through the contact member 262, conductor 263 and winding BL1 to supply conductor I4,

for operating the switch BL away from its illus- 50 trated position, thus causing separation of the cooperating pairs of contact members BLI, BL2 and BL3 and engagement of the cooperating contact members BL4 and BL5.

The circuit for operating the switch CR extends 55 from the moving contact member 264 of the load balancing relay I34, through contact member 265, conductor 266, the winding CR1 to the supply conductor I4, for operating the switch OR to separate the cooperating pairs of con- 0 tact members CRI, CR2 and CR3 and causing engagement of the cooperating contact members CR4 and CR5.

Engagement of the.moving contact member 264 of the load balancing relay I34 with the con- 5 tact member 261 closes a circuit through the conductor 268, and the winding CL1 to supply conductor 14, for actuating the switch CL from its illustrated position, separating the cooperating pairs of contact members CLI, CL2 and CL3, and causing engagement of the cooperating pairs of contact members CL4 and CL5.

As pointed out above, when a proper balance exists between the loads of the several generating units and the several switches are in the positions illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, the closing oi? the direction determining relays 18 or IE by the load controlling relay 56 will cause operation at all of the governor setting motors I28, I25 and III in the proper direction. If the load on the unit A increases to cause an unbalance between the loads of the several units, the load balance relay I32 will be actuated to cause engagement of the contact members 255 and 25d, thus energizing the winding ARI and operating the switch AR to its second operative position, It will be noted that this definitely interrupts the circuit through the pair of cooperating contact members ARI preventing operation oi? the motor I28 in a direction to increase the power input to the unit A. Operation of the switch AR to its sec-- ond illustrated position also interrupts the circuit through the cooperating pair oi contact members AR2, which is in the circuit for actuating the motor I29 in a power input decreasing direction, and opens the circuit through the pair of contact members ARIi in the circuit for operating the motor I3I in a power input decreasing direction.

If, the other motor control switches remaining as illustrated, operation oi the switch AR, as above described, in'response to an increase in the load on the generating unit A, with respect to the desired balance between the several generating units, definitely prevents operation of the motor I28 in a direction to increase the load on the unit A, and prevents operation of the motors I29 and ISI in directions to cause a decrease in the power input to the units B and C. Should, therefore, the relay 19 close in response to the operation of the relay 56 in a direction to raise the power input to the units as a group, this increase in power would be effected by operations oi the motors I29 and I3I only, thus increasing the power input to the generators B and C. While should the relay I8 operate in response to an impulse from the load relay 56 to decrease the power output of the group of generators, the motor I28 only would operate, to decrease the power input to the generator unit A.

Exactly similar circuits will be set up with respect to the other of the three units, upon operation of either 01' the load balancing relays I33 or I in a direction to energize the operating windings BR] and CRT 01' the switches BR and CR. Also exactly similar switching operation would be made upon operation 01' either of the load balancing relays I22, I32 or I34 in a direction to energize the windings ALI, BLI and CL! of the switches AL, BL and CL for controlling the operation of the motors I28, I28 and Ill, respectively, in a direction to lower the input to their respective generating units A, B and C.

If the loads on the three units becomes unbalanced in such manner that the load on the unit A is too high, the load on the unit B is an intermediate or correct value, and the load on the unit C is too low, the switch AL will be controlled by the load balancing relay I32 to operate in the manner above described, and the switch CL will be controlled by the load balancing relay I 24 to operate to its second circuit closing position, thus interrupting the circuit to the motor III through the pair of contact members CLI to prevent lowering o! the load on the unit C, and cause engagement of the cooperating pairs of contact members CL and CL! in the control circuits of the motors I28 and 128, respectively, for actuating them in directions to decrease the load input to their respective generating units. The pairs oi cooperating contact members CLlI in the circuit for controlling the motor I28 to an input increasing direction and the cooperating contact members GL2 for controlling the motor in in a power input increasing direction are likewise operated to their circuit interrupting positions.

Ii, now, the load relay I56 operates to increase the power input to the group oi! generators, closing the relay 18, the circuit to the motor I28 in a power increasing direction is interrupted at two points CL3 and ARII preventing operation 01 this motor in that direction. In the circuit for operating the motor I29 in a direction to increase the power input to the generator unit .8, the pair oi contact members (3L2 are now separated and 1 would thus interrupt this circuit, except for the fact that the contact members AR5, that are in shunt relation thereto, have been closed by the switch AR. A circuit is thus completed from the auxiliary supply conductor I 52 through cooper- I ating pairs of contact members ARE, AL! and BRI to operate the motor I25 in a direction to increase the power input of the unit B. A circuit from the supply conductor I52 now extends through the previously traced circuit including the contact members BL2 and CH in their illustrated closed positions, the contact members AR being also in their closed position so that the motors I29 and Bi will both operate in power increasing directions.

If with the switches AR and CL in the assumed positions, the load control relay 56 operates in a position to decrease the load on the group of units, thus closing the relay I8, a circuit will be completed from the auxiliary supply conductor I53 through the control circuit for the motor I28 through the pairs or contact members CR3, BRI and ALI, all of which are in their illustrated or closed positions. The contact members GL5 are also in their circuit closing positions. A circuit will also be completed to operate the motor I25 in a direction to decrease the power input to the generator B, this circuit extending from the auxiliary supply conductor I53 through pairs of contact members CR2, 0L4 and BLI, the contact members AR2 being separated. The circuit for operating the motor I3I in a power input decreasing direction has been interrupted by the contact members CLI so that the motors I28 and I29 only will so operate.

With the assumed positions of the switches AR and CL just described, the motor I28 will operate only in adirection to decrease the power input to its associated unit, motor I29 will operate in either direction, and the motor I II will operate only in a direction to increase the power input to its associated unit.

As will appear from the above description of the motor control circuits, and from reference to the diagrammatic representation of the circuits in Fig. 3, the lowermost illustrated cooperating pairs of contact members AR, AL, etc., definitely interrupt the control operation of their associated motor, while the other pairs of cooperating contact members, controlled by the switches associated with the other two units, jointly operate to complete or interrupt the circuit to the particular motor. For example, in the case of motor I28, separation of the pair of contact members ARI controlled by switch AR definitely prevents operation of the motor I28 in a load increasing direction, while if the contact members ARI are in their circuit closing position, the circuit from the Junction point III to the auxiliary supply conductor I 52 may be interrupted by either the pair ail of contact members BL3, or GL3, associated with the switches for preventing the lowering of the input to the units B and C, respectively, or the branch circuit from the point I58 to the conductor I52 may be completed by closing either the contactrnembers CR5 or BB5 associated with the switches for preventing an increase in the power input to the units C and B, respectively.

It will be noted that the pair of contact members CR5 can be operated to their circuit closing position only when the contact members L3 are in their circuit closing position, since these contact members are actuated from their illustrated positions by opposite circuit controlling positions of the load balancing relay I34, and also that the contact members BB can be operated to a circuit closing position only when the contact members BL3 are already in their circuit closing position, since these two pairs of contact members can be operated from their illustrated positions only upon opposite positions of the load balancing relay I33. Closing of either of the pairs of contact members BR5 or CR5 will, therefore, insure a circuit from the auxiliary supply conductor I52 to the junction point I58 to insure operation of the motor I28 unless the contact members ARI are in their circuit interrupting positions. This same relation exists through all the several motor increasing and motor decreasing circuits with respect to all branch circuits through cooperating pairs of contact members illustrated as being in their circuit interrupting positions.

Since many modifications may be made in the circuits and apparatus illustrated, without departing from the spirit of my invention, I do not wish to be limited otherwise than by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination, a plurality oi. electrical generators operating in parallel circuit relation, individual prime movers for driving the several generators, means associated with each prime mover for varying the power input thereto, means responsive to a regulated quantity resulting from the operation of said generators for controlling the power input to said prime movers, and means responsive to load unbalance between said several generators for selecting certain of said generators only to respond to specific variations in power .input.

2. In combination, a plurality of electrical generators operatively connected for supplying power to the same circuit, a separate prime mover for driving each of said generators, means assoeiated with each prime mover for varying the power input thereto, means responsive-to a regulated quantity determined by the joint output of said several generators for controlling the power input to said prime movers, and means responsive to the relative condition of loading among said several machines for determining which of said several prime movers shall respond to specific variations in power input.

3. In combination, a plurality of electrical generators operatively connected for supplying power to the same circuit, a separate prime mover for -.driving each 01 said generators, means associated with each prime mover for varying the power input thereto, means responsive to the output oi! said group of generators for controlling the power input to said prime movers, and means responsive to unbalanced loading conditions among said several generators for temporarily limiting the effect of said output responsive means to selected prime mover units for specific variations in power input.

4. In combination, a plurality of electrical generators operatively connected for supplying power to the same circuit, a separate prime mover for driving each of said generators, means associated with each prime mover for varying the power input thereto, means responsive to the power output of said group of generators for controlling the power input to said prime movers, and means responsive to a variation in the power output ratio between said several machines from a desired relationship for selecting one of said prime mover units to be controlled in response to a requirement for an increase in the power output of the group, and another one of said prime mover units to be controlled in response to a requirement for a decrease in the power output of the group.

5. In a regulating system, a power circuit, a plurality of electric generators connected to the power circuit, a prime mover for supplying power to each of said generators, a governor for controlling the speed of each prime mover, adjusting means for varying the setting of each governor, means responsive to the group output of said generators for varying the settings of said governor mechanisms, and means responsive to load unbalance between said generators for selecting certain of said governor mechanisms to respond to specific variations in the output of said several generators.

6. In a regulating system, a power circuit, a plurality of electric generators connected to the power circuit, a separate prime mover for supplying power to each of said generators, means associated witheach prime mover for governing the power input thereto, electroresponsive means for varying the setting of said governing means, means responsive to the output from said several generators for controlling the electroresponsive means, and means responsive to the load balance between said several generators for presetting control circuits to said electroresponsive means for selecting certain of said prime movers to respond to a required power decrease from the group.

7. In a regulator system, a power circuit, a plurality of electric generators connected to the power circuit, a separate prime mover for supplying power to each of said generators, means associated with each prime mover for governing the power input thereto, electroresponsive means associated with each governing means for adjusting the setting thereof, a load responsive relay actuated in accordance with the total power output from said several generators, a pair of directional relays controlled thereby for selectively controlling operation of said several electroresponsive means in the power-input increasing and power-input decreasing directions, and means sensitive to load balance among said several generators for preventing the power-input increasing directional relay from being effective .with respect to a generator from which the output is too high and for preventing the powerinput decreasing directional relay from being ef- Iective with respect to a generator from which the output is too low.

LAWRENCE L. FOUNTAIN. 

